Smoke control for fireplaces



S. BUCCI Zmventor Filed July 14, 1952 Dec. 25, 1956 SMOKE CONTROL FOR FIREPLAOES United States Patent l 32,175,239 j j SMOKE CONTROL FOR FIREPLACES Sam Bucci, Greenwich, Conn. applicati@ July i4, 1952, seria1`N0.z9s,7z9 y 1 claim. (ci. 12s- 135) `This invention relates to a smoke-control devicefor the opening in`a` fireplace, and has for `an object to provide such a device includinga closure which may be drawndown to close ol the opening to substantially seal the fireplace at night or any other time to prevent fires, and which can be raised and left at various heights to close off any desired portion of the opening for controlling the draft and preventing smoke flowing out into the room.

A further object is to provide such a device which may be easily installed and easily operated to effect the smoke and draft control.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is .a front elevation of a fireplace with this device installed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the smoke-control device by itself, removed from the fireplace;

Fig. 5 is a detail section showing means for retaining the control element in different positions;

Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of this means, and

Fig. 7 is a detail section of this means substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

The fireplace comprises the usual space 10 for the andirons or grate (not shown) and may be lined by the usual firebrick with the surrounding masonry 11. This smoke-control device is mounted at the back of the facing 12 at the sides and front of the fireplace opening 13, and comprises a sheetmetal boXlike structure 14 mounted just above the opening 13 and back of the facing 12, preferably by one row of bricks and the usual wall finish 15, supported by a cross beam or angle member 15a, as shown in Fig. 2. Extending downwardly from the lower edge of this upper structure 14 and located in the wall at the opposite sides of the opening 13 are upright guide structures 16. This may be any structure desired, but is preferably a sheet and boxlike structure provided in the side facing the opening with a vertical slot 17, so that these slots face each other fromthe opposite sides of the opening 13. At the lower edge of the back wall 18 of the boxlike structure 14 is a rearwardly extending shelf 19 on which the front brick 20 of the flue 21 may be supported.

The back wall of the fireplace may have the usual upwardly and forwardly inclined heat deector wall 22 leading to the flue opening 23 in which is mounted the usual damper 24, which may b e shifted and controlled by any of the usual mechanisms (not shown).

The guides 16 extend to the bottom of the opening 13 2,775,239 Patented Dec. 25, 1956` ICC and form guides at the opposite edges of the smokecontrol member 25. This may be of different constructions but is preferably an upright sheet metal member guided at its opposite edges by the guide structures 16, and mounted adjacent the opposite edges of this member are bolts 26 extending through the slots 17 into the guide structures and carrying rollers 27 running on one wall of the guides 16, in the present arrangement the front wall 28, and they also carry a at bowed spring 29 frictionally engaging and slidable on the opposite side wall 30. The spring may be mounted in any suitable way, but preferably is held by a tight fit in a slot 31 in the end of the bolt. Any suitable number ofthese springs and rollers may be used, but preferably there are two on each of the opposite upright edges of the smoke-control member 25 and lo`- cated adjacent the top and bottom edges. The rollers 27 facilitate shifting the control member up and down in the guides to any desired position, and the friction springs 29 hold it in any position to which it may be shifted. It is also preferred to provide the side wall 28 on which the rollers 27 run with a series of openings or depressions 32 in which the rollers may seat and be retained by pressure of the springs 29 to more effectively hold the member 25 at different heights and prevent its gradually dropping down from any given adjusted position due to vibration or other causes.

The control member 25 is provided with one or more handles 33 to facilitate shifting it to different positions. These are preferably located adjacent the lower edge 34 of the smoke-control member 25, and may be located either above this lower edge or to project a short distance below it, as shown. If they project a short distance below this lower edge, the control member 25 may be raised to a position entirely above the top edge 35 of the fireplace opening 13 so that it is entirely out of sight with these handles 33 projecting slightly below this edge where they are accessible for drawing the control member 25 downwardly over the opening. When the control member is in the lower position, such handles projecting below its lower edge would prevent this lower edge engaging the lower wall or oor of the fireplace, and therefore, although it would substantially seal oil:I the opening it would leave a small opening for entrance of sufficient air to maintain the fire and prevent it from being smothered; or if it is desired to provide a structure which would entirely seal off the opening these handles could be placed a short distance above the lower edge 34 of the member 25, or `depressions could be provided in the lower surface of the fireplace to receive these handles.

This device may be used to prevent smoke getting into the room'by drawing it to any desired height below the top edge 36 of the fireplace opening 13. It will also control the draft to the fire, and it can be, as described above, used to substantially seal off the opening 13 to prevent sparks being thrown out :and causing fires at night or any other time when it is drawn clear down to the hearth so as to close the whole opening. If desired, this member 25 may also be provided with a series of small openings'37 to permit entrance of air to help maintain the draft and prevent smoke, and also to provide sufficient air when the control member 25 is in its lowest position to maintain the fire and prevent its being smothered. Also when the member 25 -is in the partially lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, for example, these openings will permit light from the re to pass through and give a pleasing effect.

It will be seen the device is a very simple one and may be readily installed in the usual fireplace construction and that when installed the fireplace may be used in the usual manner with the control member entirely retracted and out of sight; or it can be readily drawn to any desired position to prevent smoke passing out into the room,

Particularlywhen a tiregisjrst started and the l'bricksand ue are cold so the draft is not suicient to carry the smoke up the ue, or it may be used by drawing to a lower position to control the draft,;as for example by coniining the ,entrance of air ,to the lower ,party of ,thejre in -starting ,it korto getasortof forcingeffect to ,get the lire.4 going quickly. v

Having, thus setr forth ,the nature kof. V`my inventioml claim:

A fireplace comprising ,wa11s,forminga combustion spiace, a chimney Vflueleading fromlhenpper part of said 'Space and a `-front opening leadingv tosaid space with a sure'projecting at its upper edge-'intoethe-housing and at its-opposite upright side edges into said guide members between the walls thereof, lmounting means for the closure mounted thereon and guided in said guide members to permit up and down movement of the closure, means on the mounting means to retain the closure in different adjusted positions, handle means on the closure for shifting the closure, and the closure being provided with a series of air inlet openings.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITEDr STATES 'PATENTS 244;'397 Matthews Ju1y19,' 1881 729,630 Milans k June 2, 1903 1,094,659 Johnston Apr. 28, 1914 1,676,893 Eisele a July 10, 1928 2,209,041 Sinchuk July 23, 1940 2,402,620 Garsh June 25,. 1946 2,490,992 Bergman', V Dec. 13,1949

' vFOREIGN PATENTS 1889228' Great .Britain Nov. 9,` 1922, Y 

